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Jefferson High School bowling team wins championship, highlights value of all students

Stacked in individual lanes, a bowling alley is the perfect example of a friendly competition. Everyone takes turns, trying to knock down every pin before the person after them does. Bowling is typically an independent sport, but at Lafayette Jefferson High School, it is all about team collaboration, working together to get the highest scores […]

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Jefferson High School bowling team wins championship, highlights value of all students


Stacked in individual lanes, a bowling alley is the perfect example of a friendly competition. Everyone takes turns, trying to knock down every pin before the person after them does.

Bowling is typically an independent sport, but at Lafayette Jefferson High School, it is all about team collaboration, working together to get the highest scores and including everybody in the process.

JHS is one of seven ‘Unified Champions Schools’ in Indiana. To receive this national banner recognition, the school is expected to be dedicated to creating an inclusive and integrative environment.

Specifically, the school implements sports and club activities called ‘Special Olympic Unified Sports’, where individuals with and without disabilities work together and compete as a team.

At JHS, students can participate in unified sports, like bowling, through a partnership with the student-run Best Buddies Program, which fosters inclusion by pairing students with and without disabilities in these sports.

Last year was the team’s first time bowling in the state finals. To the team and coach Kristen Van Laere’s surprise, they “landed third place in the championship,”







Jefferson bowling team

Members of the Jefferson High School bowling team take a photo together at a competition. 




Van Laere said this year they had the same attitude towards the sport, which was to have fun and do their best.

“I’ll never forget what it was like, going into the last set and the guy (from Unified Sports) said 54. I don’t know what that means” Van Laere said. “He says (in that moment) you’re 54 pins up, (which is) first place out of all of the schools. It was hysterical, but now (I knew) we are playing to win.”

“You know, (it’s) kind of like the (Purdue) basketball tournament that just got done. You knew going in, (that) Purdue was going to win certain games and they were expected to.,” Van Laere said. “I never had an expectation (about) this – I think that’s what makes it fun.”

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Nick Shultz, a senior at JHS, said he did not get to participate last year because he had Influenza B, a type of virus that made him very ill and forced him to participate in e-sports.

Despite this, Schultz said he made an effort to keep up spirits and stay positive, as a couple of his team members said he would keep them going when times were difficult.

Junior Keira Hegwood matched Shultz’s sentiment about keeping their heads up. When talking about some of the team’s pizza parties, Hegwood said that when “(she sees) people dance, (she sees) the light.”

The closeness of the bowling group did not start out that way. Van Laere mentioned there were some bumps in the road to overcome before they got to the point they are at now. Each member of the team had a reason for why they joined and for a while — as Van Laere said — they were on different pages.

“There was no big family feeling (and) everyone had their own clique.” Van Laere said. “I let it go until Monday (where I realized) we were supposed to be qualifying for the state tournament. So Tuesday when we got to the bowling alley, we went into a smaller room and had what I call a ‘family meeting.’”

Van Laere said the Saturday of the state championship, “they clicked as a family, and they were cheering and shouting for one another.”

Freshman Piper Burke joined for the promise of a familial aspect. Burke said that she’s seen that parents have been sad or disappointed that their child hasn’t been included in sports or other activities that kids without disabilities have access to.

Winning the championship was more than placing first to Burke, as “it unified the whole state championship.”

“(It meant a lot) how some of these parents were brought to tears (after seeing) their kids being included and seeing (students) accept their child for who they are.” Burke said.

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Senior Adeline Wilburn was paired with Junior Enrique Cazares, and she said was glad she had this experience with Unified Sports because she wants to go into a career in special education. 







Jefferson bowling team

Members of the Jefferson High School bowling team celebrate their state championship win, with a team member holding the trophy in his hands.




Wilburn asked Cazares how long he wore his medal for. Smiling, Cazares said “(for) at least a week.”

While bringing a trophy home to the stands of Jefferson High School means a lot to the team, they said integrating students together, building friendships and learning that success isn’t measured by just medals — could be considered their real victory, and goes beyond the bowling alley.

…………………

Every Exponent article goes through checks for accuracy before publication. If you have a concern or questions about this article, please email editor@purdueexponent.org.

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Edison hosts Unified Champion Sports track meet

BIG EVENT — Edison High School hosted its second annual Unified Champion Sports track meet on May 12 in Richmond and held a friendly rivalry with Indian Creek High School in an inclusive event. Three races were held with individual and team winners earning ribbons while everyone was a champion. – Contributed RICHMOND — Student […]

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Edison hosts Unified Champion Sports track meet

BIG EVENT — Edison High School hosted its second annual Unified Champion Sports track meet on May 12 in Richmond and held a friendly rivalry with Indian Creek High School in an inclusive event. Three races were held with individual and team winners earning ribbons while everyone was a champion. – Contributed

RICHMOND — Student athletes were on their mark as Edison and Indian Creek high schools took part in the second Unified Champion Sports track meet on May 12.

The inclusive event included teams of typical students and those with developmental or intellectual needs in a friendly rivalry at the Edison Unified Sports Complex in Richmond, where students from both schools and the athletes’ family members could also watch and rally for the runners. Individual and team relays were held during the nearly hour-long activity, including a 100-meter dash, a 200m dash and a 4×100 relay. Participants for Edison included Olivia Ault, Kaden Eddy, Aaron Wade, Brayden Carlson, Mitchel Cronin, Jaidyn Carlson, Gabe Croskey, James Bonecutter, Olivia Rudder, Tevin Leanza, Ryan Burke-Reed, Brennan Butcher, Sydney Frampton and Anthony Rohall, the latter of The School of Bright Promise who represented EHS as his home school. Additionally, Indian Creek runners included Brayden Stewart, Misha Amis, Kaleb Manion, David Howe, Alex Fabian, Haylee Shaffer, Kaitlin Daughtery, James Donaldson, Franco Barcalow, Josh Gampolo, Lucian Pietro, Shayne Scott, Blissney Locke, Abbey Pendleton and Tylee Spencer.

The 100m dash ended with Creek’s Brayden Stewart in first place, followed by Edison’s Aaron Wade and Kaden Eddy in second and third place, respectively. Edison’s Gabe Croskey then led Creek’s Stewart and Edison’s Mitchel Cronin in the 200m race. Finally, the Wildcats’ teams earned all top three spots in the 4×100 relay with James Bonecutter, Olivia Rudder, Tevin Leanza and Ryan Burke-Reed finishing first, followed by Brennan Butcher, Sydney Frampton, Mitchel Cronin and Aaron Wade in second place with Olivia Ault, Jaidyn Carlson, Brayden Carlson and Gabe Croskey coming in third. All of those recipients gained ribbons for their hard work.

Several athletes commented that it was great fun and they enjoyed being involved.

“It felt good,” said Kaleb Manion of ICHS. “I like the great sportsmanship.”

“It was good,” noted Creek’s Brayden Stewart. “I like being with friends.”

“I liked running and the teamwork,” said Edison’s Tevin Leanza.

“I liked hanging out with my friends and it’s good to win with the team,” added Brayden Carlson of EHS.

Edison Unified Champion Sports Coordinator Jason Ensinger said the event was a way to spotlight everyone no matter their abilities.

“The mission of Unified Sports is that everyone cheers for everyone. It doesn’t matter if we win or lose,” said Ensinger. “We’re starting to have more events and I hope to see it grow. I think the kids have a wonderful time.”

Amber Scott, who represented Indian Creek Unified Champion Sports, echoed those comments and said inclusion was a great way to bring everyone together.

“I thought it went great. It’s amazing to see everyone get together for this meet and to see the inclusion,” Scott said, adding that she hoped to see activities expand in the future. “It would be nice to end the year with one big event and all of the schools involved in unified sports. We would like to expand and make it happen, and that’s the process in the future. Everybody gets involved.”

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2025 Montana Football HOF

BILLINGS — Ray Biggs’ journey in football began on a humble farm near Walla Walla, Wash. His introduction to the sport came in the seventh grade, where he quickly learned invaluable lessons about teamwork, friendship, competitiveness and dedication. As he progressed through his football career, Biggs was shaped by excellent coaches and mentors who instilled […]

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May 19, 2025

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2025 Montana Football HOF

BILLINGS — Ray Biggs’ journey in football began on a humble farm near Walla Walla, Wash. His introduction to the sport came in the seventh grade, where he quickly learned invaluable lessons about teamwork, friendship, competitiveness and dedication.

As he progressed through his football career, Biggs was shaped by excellent coaches and mentors who instilled a strong work ethic and a lifelong passion for the game.

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2025 Montana Football HOF: Former MSU DT Ray Biggs’ road from farm to fame

In high school, Biggs excelled playing both offensive and defensive tackle, proudly serving as captain of his undefeated conference champion team. After graduation, he earned a football scholarship to Columbia Basin College, where he continued to dominate on the field. Over two years, Biggs played a pivotal role in leading the team to consecutive conference championships, culminating in an impressive undefeated season his sophomore year.

His talent didn’t go unnoticed, accepting a scholarship to Montana State University, where he started as a defensive tackle. During his time there, Biggs helped the Bobcats secure back-to-back Big Sky Conference championships in 1966 and 1967, solidifying his status as a formidable player.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in Business, Biggs shifted his focus to coaching, starting at Walla Walla Community College as an assistant coach. His career quickly evolved as he took on a graduate assistant role at Colorado State University, where he further honed his coaching skills.

After obtaining a master’s degree in College Student Personnel Administration, Biggs became the assistant head football coach and director of housing at Colorado Mesa University. A highlight of his coaching tenure came in 1982 when he led the team to the NAIA national championship.

In 1983, the former Bobcat great accepted an assistant head coach position at Yakima Valley College, before transitioning to National Football Scouting (NFS). Over five years with NFS, he scouted college talent for NFL teams, showcasing his expertise and dedication to the sport.

Biggs’ most notable achievement came during his 17 years with the Houston Oilers, which later became the Tennessee Titans. As a scout primarily covering the western United States, he played an integral role in the team’s journey to the Super Bowl in 2000, an unforgettable highlight in his career.

After retiring in 2011, Biggs continued to stay connected to the game by assisting in running the annual NFS Invitational Camp in Indianapolis for NFL draft-eligible players, demonstrating his commitment to fostering new talent.

Throughout his illustrious career, Biggs has positively impacted the lives of countless athletes and students, evident in the enduring relationships he has maintained with former players, coaches and scouts. His legacy is marked not only by his significant accomplishments, including multiple hall of fame inductions, but also by the values and inspiration he has shared with those around him.

For Biggs, football has been far more than just a game; it has been the cornerstone of his life journey.

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Tuesday's high school scores and highlights

ROUNDUP Boys lacrosse In the Patriot League, Brady Rhinesmith recorded seven points (four goals, three assists), Cam Silvia added five (one goal, four assists), and Cole Martin scored four times to lead Duxbury past Hanover, 15-0. Finn Wright tallied five goals and an assist as Ipswich took down Essex Tech 9-4 in Cape Ann League […]

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Tuesday's high school scores and highlights

ROUNDUP

Boys lacrosse

In the Patriot League, Brady Rhinesmith recorded seven points (four goals, three assists), Cam Silvia added five (one goal, four assists), and Cole Martin scored four times to lead Duxbury past Hanover, 15-0.

Finn Wright tallied five goals and an assist as Ipswich took down Essex Tech 9-4 in Cape Ann League play.

Girls lacrosse

In the Bay State Conference, Sophia Fruci, Jenna Wong, and Caitlyn Naughton each scored four goals to lead Walpole (13-1) to a 21-8 victory over Braintree.

In the Mayflower Athletic Conference, Kayla Nota collected four goals and an assist while Bella Humphreys added an hat trick as South Shore Tech (5-10) edged Upper Cape, 7-6.

Allie Wile scored six goals as Ipswich defeated Essex Tech 15-3 in the Cape Ann League.

In a nonleague matchup, Emily Berube scored four times and Clare Latham netted a hat trick as Bishop Feehan toppled Quincy 17-7.

Kiera Fitzpatrick (5 goals, 4 assists) and Kate Fitzpatrick (3 goals) powered the offense as Methuen defeated Tewksbury 19-8 in the Merrimack Valley Conference.

Baseball

In a South Shore League matchup, Ben Tracey struck out eight in a complete-game effort while Wil Callahan recorded a pair of hits and two RBI as Abington defeated Carver, 5-1.

Jaiden Aquino struck out 13 while going the distance and allowing three hits as Melrose blanked Wilmington 6-0 in Middlesex League play.

In the Cape & Islands League, Matthew Taylor notched 11 strikeouts while Ty Creighton drove in four as Sandwich defeated Dennis-Yarmouth 5-0.

In the Patriot League, Aidan Van Dyk allowed a pair of hits and struck out nine while Sam Light collected three hits to lead Hanover to a 8-1 victory over Quincy.

Daniel Vazquez dominated by striking out 15 as Medfield topped Tri-Valley League opponent Norwood 5-1.

Softball

In a Cape Ann League game, Viola Fazio drove in four runs on three hits to lead Hamilton-Wenham past Rockport with a final score of 19-4.

In the Middlesex League, Mia Helein, Mia Basile, and Grace Forsythe each recorded a pair of hits to lead Woburn to a 4-1 victory over Belmont. … Senior Eva Boudreau went 3-for-3 with five RBI as Wilmington blanked Melrose 17-0.

In a Commonwealth Athletic Conference contest, Amaya Flood earned the win on the mound with nine strikeouts and drove in three RBI as Greater Lowell defeated Lowell Catholic, 10-2.

In the South Coast Conference, Reese Taylor struck out seven in three innings and recorded three hits with three RBI as Apponequet (12-5) defeated Fairhaven, 12-1.

In the South Shore League, Elsie Testa struck out ten while Maddie McDonald recorded a pair of doubles and four RBI as Abington (12-5) defeated Carver, 8-1. … Taryn Clancy fanned 10 in a complete game, allowing just one run as Middleboro (11-4) topped East Bridgewater, 6-1.

In a Bay State League game, Sharlotte Stazinski finished 3-for-3 with a home run and five RBI. Sharlotte also tossed a complete-game with ten strikeouts to lead Walpole to a 6-2 victory over Newton North.

Sam Chalupa and Adriana Delaney had three hits and three RBI each as Methuen out slugged nonleague opponent Westford Academy 13-11.

Volleyball

Anthony Rubim dished 45 assists to crack 1,000 on his career, setting up Joel De La Rosa for 17 kills as Greater Lawrence (12-4) secured the Commonwealth Athletic Conference with a 3-2 win over Lowell Catholic.

In Dual County League action, Cooper Szeremeta (13 kills) led Wayland (12-5) in a 3-0 sweep of Lincoln-Sudbury.

Braeden Bartley had 11 kills and 11 digs for Durfee, anchoring a 3-0 nonleague win over Silver Lake.

SCORES

BASEBALL

Abington 5, Carver 1

Acton-Boxboro 7, Waltham 5

Austin Prep 10, Mount St. Charles 0 (5i)

Boston International 16, O’Bryant 12

Chelmsford 11, Central Catholic 9

Dighton-Rehoboth 4, Nauset 3

EMK 6, TechBoston 5

English 3, Blackstone Valley 2

Essex Tech 6, Manchester-Essex 1

Foxboro 6, Canton 5 (9i)

Hamilton-Wenham 9, Pentucket 3

Hanover 8, Quincy 1

Haverhill 9, Dracut 0

Hopkinton 18, Medway 3 (5i)

Lexington 5, Winchester 2

Medfield 5, Norwood 1

Melrose 6, Wilmington 0

Middleborough 7, East Bridgewater 4

New Mission 8, Brooke Charter 6

Newton South 2, Westford Academy 1

North Reading 4, Georgetown 3

Peabody 5, Revere 3

Reading 11, Arlington 2

Sandwich 5, Dennis-Yarmouth 0

Seekonk 14, Fairhaven 2

Westwood 11, Millis 1

GOLF

Duxbury 4, Scituate 2

Monomoy 5, Nauset 1

Quincy/North Quincy 4, Silver Lake 3

Wellesley 5.5, Needham 0.5

BOYS LACROSSE

Billerica 14, Andover 13

Bridgewater-Raynham 6, Barnstable 3

Cohasset 11, Sandwich 2

Duxbury 15, Hanover 0

Hingham 14, Plymouth South 4

Ipswich 9, Essex Tech 4

Manchester-Essex 12, North Reading 2

Medfield 13, Lincoln-Sudbury 8

Nauset 8, Falmouth 7

Scituate 15, Marshfield 12

Tyngsboro 13, St. Bernard’s 8

Winchester 16, Lexington 5

GIRLS LACROSSE

Andover 11, Billerica 7

Bishop Feehan 17, Quincy 7

Boston Latin 17, Latin Academy 5

Ipswich 15, Essex Tech 3

Marshfield 12, Scituate 8

Methuen 19, Tewksbury 8

Nauset 12, Falmouth 11

Needham 18, Weymouth 10

Newburyport 12, Lynnfield 11

Pembroke 7, Silver Lake 5

South Shore Tech 7, Upper Cape 6

Walpole 21, Braintree 8

Watertown 15, Stoneham 10

Westford 15, Newton South 5

Whitman-Hanson 14, Plymouth North 7

SOFTBALL

Abington 8, Carver 1

Apponequet 12, Fairhaven 1

Bedford 7, Tyngsboro 0

Concord-Carlisle 2, Chelmsford 1

EMK 18, Boston International 3

Excel 19, Madison Park 4

Fenway 19, Charlestown 12

Greater Lowell 10, Lowell Catholic 2

Greater New Bedford 13, Dartmouth 11

Hamilton-Wenham 19, Rockport 4

Marshfield 3, Duxbury 2

Masconomet 8, Winthrop 0

Methuen 13, Westford Academy 11

Middleboro 6, East Bridgewater 1

Newton South 27, East Boston 7

Notre Dame (T) 16, Lynn Tech 1

Notre Dame (T) 18, Lynn Tech 1

Plymouth North 6, Whitman-Hanson 5

Reading 7, Arlington 5

Rising Tide 16, Mashpee 4

Taunton 4, Attleboro 0

Wakefield 4, Burlington 3

Walpole 6, Newton North 2

Wilmington 17, Melrose 0

Woburn 4, Belmont 1

BOYS TENNIS

Apponequet 3, Somerset Berkley 2

Arlington 5, Melrose 0

Bishop Feehan 5, St. Mary’s (L) 0

Chelmsford 3, Haverhill 2

Gloucester 3, Beverly 2

Lowell Catholic 3, Lawrence 2

Lowell Catholic 3, Lawrence 2

Marblehead 5, Winthrop 0

Newton North 5, Needham 0

Pembroke 4, Whitman-Hanson 1

St. John’s Prep 5, Andover 0

Scituate 5, Hanover 0

Swampscott 5, Amesbury 0

Wakefield 5, Woburn 0

Wareham 4, Middleboro 1

Wellesley 4, Weston 1

GIRLS TENNIS

Apponequet 3, Somerset Berkley 2

Bishop Feehan 5, St. Mary’s (L) 0

Bridgewater-Raynham 5, New Bedford 0

Hingham 5, Plymouth North 0

Holliston 5, Dedham 0

Leominster 3, No. Middlesex 2

Medfield 5, Norwood 0

Newton South 4, Andover 1

North Reading 4, Pentucket 1

Notre Dame (H) 5, Duxbury 0

Oliver Ames 4, Stoughton 1

Rockport 5, Gloucester 0

Swampscott 5, Amesbury 0

Ursuline Academy 3, Malden Catholic 2

Wareham 4, Middleboro 1

GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD

Hopkinton 92, Dedham 44

Peabody 120, Salem 8

Peabody 71, Swampscott 60

VOLLEYBALL

Braintree 3, Weymouth 1

Brookline 3, Needham 0

Durfee 3, Silver Lake 0

Greater Lawrence 3, Lowell Catholic 2

Medfield 3, Norwood 0

Natick 3, Newton North 0

Norton 3, Attleboro 2

Wayland 3, Lincoln-Sudbury 0

Wellesley 3, Framingham 0

©2025 MediaNews Group, Inc. Visit at bostonherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Men's 400M Hurdles Highlights

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Men's 400M Hurdles Highlights


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Women's Triple Jump Highlights

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Women's Triple Jump Highlights


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Men's basketball

Following the annual May lull, it will be a busy summer for the Colorado men’s basketball team. The returning Buffaloes were allowed to go their separate ways following the end of finals nearly two weeks ago, but June 1 will mark the unofficial first day of work for the 2025-26 squad. The Buffs are scheduled […]

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Men's basketball

Following the annual May lull, it will be a busy summer for the Colorado men’s basketball team. The returning Buffaloes were allowed to go their separate ways following the end of finals nearly two weeks ago, but June 1 will mark the unofficial first day of work for the 2025-26 squad. The Buffs are scheduled […]

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